The Builder --- August 2005
The Pastor Shares
I Can’t Wait!!! We have so many great things to come in the next several months I can hardly wait for some of them. We are in the process of developing a very special music series, welcoming a guest group “Voices A Cappella” from Zambia, Africa, and beginning my favorite study group, not to mention Rally Sunday! I one get to write about one thing here so Disciples is it.
As a pastor, I’ve had many opportunities to teach classes but none of them are as exciting to me as teaching Disciple Bible Study. It gives a wonderful overview of the Bible while challenging us to grow in our practice of following in Jesus footsteps! In Disciple Bible study I have seen people who knew little about the Bible grow to understand and appreciate the rich heritage of both the Old and New Testaments. I have seen people re-commit to following Christ and I have seen lasting friendships form! That’s why I’m so excited about bringing this opportunity to Arlington Hills.
I will be teaching the class along with Evelyn Hunt (A very experienced Disciples leader) we will learn and grow with you as we’re aided by video instruction from top seminary professors and Bible scholars in understanding the Word. The class will meet on Wednesday Evening beginning September 14th and will conclude late April or May with a few breaks along the way. It will require some reading outside of class time. Yes—that is a big commitment. It’s also a giant learning opportunity. The good news is that you grow in proportion to the time and effort you invest.
Please sign up at the welcome center before September 25th so that we can order materials.
Pastor Chip
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL
Summer Sunday School is on hiatus for August. Sunday School Registration will take place on Rally Sunday, September 11th. Actual classes will begin on Sunday, September 18th.
We are in need of a few teachers for the coming year. You will teach for two weeks in a row, and then be off for 6 – 8 weeks. The new curriculum is an exciting, hands on study that engages the different intelligences (verbal, logical, visual, physical, musical, social, and independent).
If you would like to know more about teaching, please call Maxine at (651.776.1547). We plan to have a lot of fun while we learn!
2005
UNITED METHODIST
MINNESOTA TWINS DAY
UMC 2005 with the Minnesota Twins is set and here’s your chance to join friends and family for a night of big league fun and excitement! Saturday, August 20th at 6:10 p.m. as the Twins play the Seattle Mariners. Highlights scheduled for this year’s event include:
· Jumpin Jehosaphats
· Lower level reserved seats for $18
· Hot dog & soft drink $3.50 (reg.$6)
· Scoreboard recognition for congregation
Order deadline is Friday, August 13th. Reservations filled with the best available seat locations on first come/first serve basis.
For more information or to order tickets contact Eric Hudson of the Twins (612.375.7482). Remember baseball is one of the few pastimes still enjoyed by all ages!
LABOR DAY camp
This coming Labor Day weekend, join others at Koronis Assembly grounds near Paynesville for family camp, which also includes singles too! Fun, learning, informal worship, music, sports, games and time to relax are all a part of the weekend. There is a flyer on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or speak with Diane Fruci (774.8362) or Linda Oberg (776.8074).
MOMS IN TOUCH
COLLEGE/CAREER
PRAYER GROUP
"Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children..." Lamentations 2:19. Moms in Touch a worldwide ministry of mothers who pray for their children and school/careers. Most of the public and private schools in our area have a Moms in Touch group meeting regularly to pray. Adult children need prayer, too!
A college/career Moms in Touch group will begin meeting here at Arlington Hills in mid-September, each Wednesday from 1:00-2:15 p.m. If you have children in this age category, whether they are college students or out in the working world, please think about joining us. We believe prayer is the most important gift a mom can give her child--at any age. For more information, call Elaine Gregory (651-483-3002) or check out Mom in Touch website at www.momsintouch.org.
SUNSHINE PRESCHOOL OPENINGS
We still have a couple of openings for in both of our programs, Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. If you would like information about Sunshine Preschool please call Jan Frankenberg (651.776.1547).
THE GAP
Its time to think canoeing on the St. Croix! A chance to get wet and cool off!! Remember last year, when we had a cold rain in August. We're a week later this year, so maybe it will snow. We need to make a choice between two trips. Either can work, but we can comfortably go with the flow as to which one.
1.) Drive to Taylors Falls and canoe from Taylors Falls to Osceola. Good scenery at the beginning. No rapids. Shorter of the two trips - 7 miles and allegedly 2-3 hours. Cost is $37.25 per canoe unless we get at least 20 people, in which case it is $33 per canoe.
2.) Drive to Wild River State Park, where we meet outfitter who hauls us up to Sunrise Landing where we put in and float about 10 miles down river, which allegedly takes 3-3.5 hours. No rapids. I don't know the scenery, but its definitely wooded. Cost is $35 per canoe. Probably also requires a state park sticker. So trip (2) is a bit longer and farther north.
Ideally (which depends on how booked they are) we put in the 2-3 p.m. range, which probably means arriving in the 1:30-2:00 range. Then we canoe. Then we have dinner at some nearby roadhouse. So this would basically take Saturday afternoon and early evening. Please advise RSVP as to whether you are coming and which trip you prefer.
John and Thelma James
--- john-thelma@earthlink.net
2005 SCHOOL
OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONS
July 15-17 four members of our congregation (JoAnne Dansdill, Diane Fruci, Caroline Nentwig, Linda Oberg) attended the School of Christian Mission at St John’s University in Collegeville. For me at was a very inspirational weekend. This year we stayed on campus. To me this added to the experience since we were there to study for the whole weekend with no distractions of television, family, etc.
We studied Children in the Bible, Public Education and India-Pakistan. Rev Cindy Gregorson, the Metro East District Superintendent was the leader for the Children in the Bible study. She was fabulous. On Saturday night we had an India-Pakistan festival. Several women brought fabric to make a sari. The festival started with a parade of saris. We had an Indian meal, which included cucumber and yogurt salad, curried chicken and curried cucumbers. After dinner we were entertained with tradition Indian dances.
In addition to the four attendees, Andrea Kienitz lead the teen event which touched on Children in the Bible and India-Pakistan. The youth participated in a couple mission projects.
-Linda Oberg
Musical notes
I want to thank all of you who have given such a welcoming and affirming response to my additional duties and new responsibilities as Music Director. It is with great anticipation and delight that I look to the fast approaching fall calendar and have already started to plan and prepare for an exciting year in music and worship. Please be in prayer as we go through the process of hiring our new Choir Director, pray that we will be given wisdom and discernment as we seek God’s leading.
May you carry a melody of God’s love in your hearts,
Leah Harding
P.S.
Calling all past, present AND FUTURE choir people!
Come Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00 p.m. for a Choir Spaghetti Splash and the 1st rehearsal of the season. It will be a great opportunity to get re-acquainted and get caught up with one another PLUS meet and get to know our new choir director. We will have the year’s rehearsal and performance schedule all lined out in order to provide you the ability to plan your personal schedule with a commitment to your church choir. We’ll have lots of fun, so plan ahead to make it!
BELLS, BELLS, BELLS
Do you want to play in the bell choir? The Golden Bells and the Youth Bell Choir will be starting again in September. We would love to have you join us. Watch for details in the September builder or contact Linda Oberg (776-8074).
STAMPING CLASS
Our last Stamping Class will be on Wednesday, August 10th at 1:00 p.m. We made some terrific cards last time (with half donated to UMW for the Christmas Bazaar). If you would like to join us (no experience needed), please call the church office at 651.776.1547.
METRO EAST
UMW ANNUAL MEETING
September 10 is the date of our Metro East UMW Annual Meeting at Camphor UMC. I have been passing around the word that Emma Norton "herself" will be there in a very special presentation. The plans have been changed, she is not available to us that day. In her place, I will be introducing a past or current resident of Emma Norton Services who will share what ENS has meant to her and what it has done for her life. It will be a "front row seat" viewing one of our United Methodist National Missions at work right here in St. Paul.
-Diane Fruci
Thank you’s!
As you know, I went on a 13-day trip to England and France from the 20th of
June to the 3rd of July, but what you might not know is that it was one of the
greatest things I’ve ever experienced.
Some of the things that really had an impact on me were going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, visiting the World War 2 cemetery, seeing Stonehenge in England, and going on the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, the London Eye.
When we went to the Eiffel Tower, it took a while to get to the top, because there were other people going to the top. But we finally got there, and the view was amazing! I’d bet you could see all of Paris, and more.
But when we visited the World War 2 cemetery, I had a different feeling. It was so devastating to see these thousands of crosses, representing most of the people who died for our freedom. I also heard that there were a lot of people who were never found. That would be especially sad to know that your relative was never found after fighting for our freedom.
But we finally went to England, and the first thing we did was visit Stonehenge. It was so mysterious, so… I don’t know exactly how to describe it. But it was incredible, because you’d think about who could’ve built it, why, and how they could have built it. It was very cool, because you could look at a picture of it and say, “that’s cool”, but you look at the actual thing, and you say,” WOW. That’s so amazing.”
We did so much while we were in England, but on the last night, we went on the London Eye. It’s this Ferris wheel in London that stands about 130 meters high, which gives it the record for the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. From there, you can see things like Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and a whole bunch more.
But before I end this, I just want to thank a few people for helping me through raising the money for my trip. For the first part, I want to thank Linda Oberg, Maxine Wallen, the Jones’, the Nielsen’s, the Watson’s, the McDonald’s, the VanAllen’s, the Sweeney’s, and the Gordon’s for donating food to my bake sale. I also wanted to thank those who stayed after the bake sale/spaghetti dinner and helped with the clean-up. But I especially want to thank Barb Londo and Sandy Nentwig for their big help making the spaghetti! And last, I want to thank everyone who participated and purchased items at the bake sale/spaghetti dinner. Because of you, at the bake sale/spaghetti dinner I raised $1,300!! I couldn’t thank you enough for all the support I’ve gotten from all of you!
THANKS!
-Sarah Londo
UMW News
Cookie Walk & Craft Sale
Mark your calendars for the Cookie Walk & Craft Sale to be held Saturday, December 3, 2005. The event is being sponsored by our local United Methodist Women (UMW) unit, but we will need help from the entire congregation to make it a success! Half of the profits will go to the United Methodist Women's Division—Undesignated Funds for Mission. The other half will be spent for local mission projects and projects here at the church.
What can you do with summer just around the corner? You can continue to work on your special craft projects and find the recipes for those special cookies you plan to bake. You can also start saving coffee cans and cookie tins, which will be decorated and used for packing cookies. You may bring the cans to the Church and drop them off in the designated box in the Fellowship Hall.
Thank you in advance for your help with the event. It's going to be a great day!
Cookie Walk Co-Chairs
Chris Bewell (651-778-9872)
Kaye Olson (651-481-8143)
Craft Sale & Cookbook Chair
Marsha Froehle (651-429-9643)
UMW GIFT BASKETS
Looking for a way to take part in the “Craft” part of the UMW sale? You can fill a gift basket to be donated toward the sale. Baskets can be of any size, or shape and filled with any type of goodies. Ideas such as the following could be used to fill up your “gift basket”: Chocolate Lovers Basket; Luxurious Bath Basket; Manicure/Pedicure Basket; Gardeners Basket; Cooks Basket; Coffee Lovers Basket; Stampers Basket; Car Care Basket; Golfers Delight; Fisherman Delight. Please pick up a form to be used for the auction at the sale. Please list the “Minimum Bid” and also the contents of the basket on top of the form (forms are at the Welcome Center). Questions call Marsha Froehle (651-429-9643).
FLOWER CHART
Would you like to remember someone with flowers? There are open dates, check the “Flower Calendar” in the narthex and lets fill them in.
Any questions, please call Helen (651.484.3170).
AUGUST MISSION PROJECT
- Adopt A Classroom -
With all the schools facing budget cuts and trying to be creative to help supplement their budgets, we are creating again this year “Adopt A Classroom”.
Some of the items needed are: pencils (#2’s); notebooks (one subject, wide or college rule); folders; crayons (8-16-24 count); scissors; glue sticks; erasers; protractors; compass; graph paper; post-it-notes; colored pencils; pencil sharpener; plastic zipper pencil pouches; practice books in writing or math, for at home; backpacks (new or gently used).
As you can see the needs are many each classroom has 20-25 children, many who are at poverty level and their families are unable to purchase these shool supplies. Help a child in need by dropping off your donation anytime during the July and August. Look for our display in the Fellowship Hall in the donation area. We will deliver all AHUMC donations to the school before school begins.
2005 RAMSEY COUNTY
OUTSTANING SENIOR CITIZEN
Dee Quick
Congratulations to Dee Quick as the 2005 Ramsey County Outstanding Woman Senior Citizen!!! Dee continues to cheerfully give of herself to many different organizations in need of help. Dee is one of those amazing women who quietly go to work and accomplish so much. For the last fifteen years, Dee has devoted many hours to a variety of organizations. From Alley Shoppe 109 where she has worked 8 hours twice a week for seventeen years, as an Election Judge for Ramsey County, the Arthritis Foundation volunteer, Alpha Care Grief Group, Arlington Hills UMW(1998 Annual UMW Outstanding Woman) , to her newest endeavor of hleping at the Light the Night cancer walk, Dee continues to give and give.
At the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday, September 1st all the winners from each county in the state will be recognized on stage and one winner will be selected by the MN Board of Aging and the MN State Fair Board as the 2005 Outstanding Woman Senior Citizen. The winner will receive an award and note from Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
If you are out at the State Fair stop by the Bandshell and catch the honors. Out hats off to Dee Quick and a very special “thank you” for all you have done over the years at Arlington Hills.
PRAYER CONCERNS
Please remember . . . those who have recently been hospitalized or are in care centers or continuing with medical treatments: Nicole Garcia, Bonnie Anderson, Jean Tifft, Reba Ewing, Jack Davis, Earl Gausman.
Christian sympathy to the family of . . . Everett Waldron upon the death of Dorothy on July 14, 2005 and the Decourcy family upon the death of Genevieve.
Genevieve was the wife of our former Pastor Frank Decourcy.
Cards may be sent to: Annette Decourcy Fowler, 3 – 14th Ave NE. Apt 214, St. Cloud, MN 56304
NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
The Builder welcomes news and feature articles from members, and friends. The staff will not write the/your article(s). We reserve the right to edit material for content and length. Next Builder deadline is Sunday, August 21, 2005. E-mail articles to Jan Frankenberg at jan@arlingtonhills.org or leave in mailbox #11 in the office. All address changes and mailing inquireies may be directed to Jan at (651.776.1547 – ext. 10). Thank you!
MINISTRY TEAM
Ministers – All members of the congregation.
Pastor – Rev. Carl “Chip” Nielsen III
Director of Shared Ministries/Education –
Maxine Wallen
Youth Director –
Jodi Bahmer
Director of Music & Organist –
Leah Harding
Administrative Assistant –
Jan Frankenberg
Sunshine Preschool Director –
Becky Marshall
Sunshine Preschool Teachers –
Mary Youngstrom, Elaine Gregory,
JoAnne Dansdill and Kathy Winters
Custodain – Ron Houde